While Oregon was getting shellacked by Indiana in the Peach Bowl Jan. 9 in Atlanta, one of the Ducks’ most important offseason targets was on a plane heading to Eugene for a recruiting visit, relatively oblivious to what was taking place inside Mercedes Benz Stadium.
“(The game) was cutting in and out (on the plane) and when I turned it on, they were down 21,” Koi Perich said. “It wasn’t the best sight.”
Lucky for Oregon, the final result – a 56-22 loss in the College Football Playoff semifinal game – wasn’t detrimental in landing Perich, a former all-Big Ten Conference safety from Minnesota who was in the transfer portal searching for a new team.
He found what he was looking for in Eugene.
Just three days after the 2025 season ended for Oregon, it reached an agreement with Perich, a signing that gave the Ducks’ 2026 roster a boost as they secured their replacement for Dillon Thieneman, who was months away from being selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.
“I just wanted to be on a contender and at a great program,” Perich said. “I think Oregon is both of those. There’s a lot of great coaches, great players here, and with both of those in the equation, you’re going to have a lot of success. Hopefully I can add to that.”
Oregon coach Dan Lanning has no doubt Perich can and will.
“The guy’s a football junkie,” Lanning said. “When he came for his visit, checking us out, we were in an apartment or a dorm, and I look over at Koi and I can tell he has zero interest in the apartment. I’m like, ‘You wanna go watch some football?’ 'Yeah, let’s go watch some football.’ So, we sat down and watched two hours of film.”
That sort of dedication to his craft is what’s helped mold the 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior into one of college football’s most versatile players.
Perich is best known for his ability in the defensive backfield, where he made 128 tackles, six interceptions and had 11 passes defended and two forced fumbles in two seasons with the Golden Gophers. He had 46 tackles and five picks in 2024 when he was named a freshmen all-American.
But Perich also was a productive special teams player at Minnesota, with an 8.1-yard average on 38 kick returns and a 23.2 average on 35 punt returns.
He played some on offense in 2025 as well, recording seven receptions and five rushes in 13 games.
Lanning said Perich isn’t being asked to do as much with Ducks.
“He’s a dynamic player and he was used in a lot of different ways in his previous stop,” Lanning said. “I think he’s had a little bit more of a narrow focus here, which has allowed him to perform at a really high level and continue to push every single day he steps on the field.”
However, special teams coordinator Joe Lorig did mention Perich – among several other players – as a potential option at kick/punt returner for the Ducks.
“One of the things that I really like about a guy like Koi is he’s got a lot of experience,” Lorig said. “Certainly, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. But again, just like with kickers, it’s kind of different. When you’re back there and you’re going to catch a punt and the whole world, it feels like, is looking at you, there’s a lot of pressure there. Having game experience is a big thing.”
Oregon got a firsthand look at Perich last season when the Gophers came to Autzen Stadium for a Friday night game in mid-November won handily by the Ducks.
“You noticed on the other side when we were playing against him that he’s a guy you had to plan for,” Lanning said.
Perich’s primary memory from that night was losing 42-13, though a few other things stood out as well.
“Autzen Stadium was amazing,” Perich recalled. “I think the fans are amazing. My family told me this was their favorite game atmosphere.”
They’ll get to experience game day in Eugene a lot more this season, even if it means making the long trip from home.
Perich grew up in Esko, an unincorporated town of approximately 2,000 people 15 miles west of Duluth in northern Minnesota. He’s living out of state for the first time in his life.
“Never being away from home, that was obviously a little different, but I wanted to be uncomfortable,” Perich said. “That’s something I wanted to do in my process. I knew this was a big opportunity that I needed to do and obviously you can’t be great unless you get uncomfortable.”
And being great is the plan, both as a team and for Perich as a player.
“I am really excited about the season he can have," Lanning said.
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at chansen@registerguard.com and you can follow him on X @chansen_RG
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon football safety Koi Perich set to begin new chapter